Having an electrical problem is never going to be a good time. We rely on electricity for nearly everything, and so it’s quite understandable that you’re looking for service in a hurry. But before you go rushing in, the experts at Hoffman Electrical have some things to say. Getting a cost-effective electrician is great, but there’s a fine line between cost-effective and cheap!

During the winter months, homes are slightly more susceptible to electrical emergencies. With extra electrical capacity tied to holiday lights, along with extended use of in-home lights due to shorter days, the stress on your electrical system is definitely increased while it’s cold! That means, sadly, an increase in electricity-related incidents. Don’t fear though—with the help of your DC-area electricians at Kolb, we’ll make sure you stay safe!

Probably the most dangerous and common electrical emergency is a fire. Often, you can see if there is about to be an electrical fire in your home by looking for a smoking outlet. You know the phrase—when there’s smoke, there’s fire! If you see a smoking outlet, you know something has gone very wrong. First, and above all else, call the fire department dispatched to your home. After that, call the experts at Kolb Electric for help getting your home’s wiring back to the place where it should be. However, in the event of an electrical emergency of this stature, its best to follow these tips:

At Kolb Electric, we’re prepared to help you fix your electrical issues in the event of an emergency. If you need an electrician in the Washington, DC, Virginia, or Maryland area, contact Kolb Electric today!

In the event of an emergency, we can quickly be on the scene to help repair:

Cutting your electrical bill by a few dollars here and there gives you a sense of satisfaction that you are making a difference in your monthly budget as well as doing a little something good for the environment. There are some things in our homes that are major energy users, Your furnace, air conditioner, water heater and refrigerator are all things that you need, but are costing you money. You have probably seen plenty of information about how to make your furnace, AC and water heater a little more energy efficient, but do you know how to make your fridge a little easier on the budget? An electrician in Beverly Hills has a few quick tips to help you save money on your electric bill by making your refrigerator less of an energy hog. You can can always count on the team at The Electric Connection to answer any questions you may have about saving electricity.

*Your refrigerator should not be near heat sources. Put your microwave, coffee pot and toaster oven on a counter away from the fridge. If your fridge is currently next to your stove, consider doing a minor remodel to move it.

*It may seem like a no-brainer, but do what you can to limit the amount of times and length of time you open the fridge. Tell the kids to pick what they want and shut the door!

*Do regular maintenance on the coils behind your refrigerator. Use air or a broom to dust off the grime from the coil behind your refrigerator. The build up can effect the efficiency. If you are not sure what you are doing, give an electrician familiar with Beverly Hills electrical work a call.

*A full refrigerator will be more energy efficient. Do what you can to keep your fridge full and you will save money. .

These quick tricks can help you save electricity while prolonging the life of your refrigerator. Give The Electric Connection a call if you have any more questions.

If, like many Des Moines homeowners, you’re considering sprucing up or renovating your kitchen, you should absolutely consider a carefully mapped out lighting strategy. This sounds strange to many people, as light is considered to be a foregone conclusion when designing a space; this couldn’t be further from the truth, as properly utilized light is necessary to get the most out of any kitchen. Today, our electricians will share some basic strategies for improving your kitchen’s lighting.

To get a grasp on what it takes to best lay out your kitchen’s lighting, it is important to understand how a kitchen relates to the three main types of lighting available through natural and house wiring: Ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.

The easiest to understand and utilize is ambient lighting, which is essentially just lighting designed to help us see and navigate inside of a room. Ambient lighting often comes from other rooms, widely dispersed lamps, grid-style can lighting, or natural light streaming in from windows or semi-translucent skylights. This lighting should used to create a generally visible room without any other sources of light on; think of ambient lighting as your basecoat layer of lighting, ideal for illuminating the room, but not great for a highly specific task.

Just as it implies, task lighting is ideal for illuminating a given task; for a kitchen, task lighting is perhaps the most important to properly plan out and execute. If your kitchen features nothing but recessed can lighting, then you will sorely miss the absent task lighting whenever prepping, cooking, or cleaning your kitchen. Lighting a single direction alone, such as the ceiling, will do a very poor job at illuminating spaces under cabinets, in sinks, or on the floor; additionally, one-dimensional lighting creates unsightly shadows and can cheapen the effect of your space. Having specifically utilized pendant lighting over an island or under-cabinet lighting for your countertops can make all the difference in the way your kitchen is used and displayed.

While accent lighting may seem to be the least necessary of all lighting types, as it provides little functional lighting in terms of ambient or task lighting, it can make the largest difference in the display of your kitchen. If you’re hoping to improve the look of your kitchen with an electrician alone or from an entire renovation, then you should put plenty of thought into your accent lighting. For instance: Task lighting under your cabinets can provide vital under-counter illumination, highlight your beautiful green glass tile backsplash, or both, depending on the electrician doing the installation.

Whether you’re concerned about your cavelike kitchen or planning an upcoming renovation, be sure to contact Des Moines’ trusted local electricians at Electrical Gurus today; we have the skills and experience necessary to transform your house’s wiring into the best possible lighting for your home’s kitchen.

Get in touch with our Des Moines electricians today!